Friday, May 19, 2017

Blue Jays (Geais bleus) in our backyard

     For some reason Blue Jays Cyanocitta cristata seem to be especially abundant this year and we are fortunate to regularly have three or four of this very handsome bird in our backyard.


     Even when sitting outside on the patio they display little fear and will readily come into close proximity. 
     We have a bird feeder dispensing peanuts, designed to exclude squirrels (it is not always effective) and the jays look winsomely at the food inside, unable to get to it. 


     If we are outside we can toss down food for them but in other circumstances any food available to the birds is quickly gobbled up by squirrels. These little critters appear to have become totally urbanized and they exploit every source of anthropogenic food supply available. Friends with rural properties seem not have nearly the same "problems" we have with squirrels in our suburban backyard. Sometimes five at a time are scampering around; their appetites are voracious and their ingenuity knows no bounds.


     In any event, we are very happy to have our Blue Jay companions spend time with us and look forward to many hours of pleasure derived from a close association with these intelligent birds.





David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

16 comments:

  1. Must be great to have birds like these on tap!

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  2. Hi. Awesome bird. "Squirrel in jail".

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  3. Handsome birds indeed David. A beauty contest between Blue Jay and our own Jay would be a close contest.

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  4. Hello David,:) A most delightful bird to see in your garden, and so very beautiful. Lovely images showing the wing and tail detail. We also get maybe five Eurasian Jays at a time, visiting the bird tables, as well as three or four Red squirrels. As long as you feed them they will keep coming. Since we were away for so long, I thought they might not come back, but as soon as I began putting out peanuts, they arrived with their usual garrulous gusto.:)

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  5. Oh yes, it's fanstastic to have this bird in your garden ! Amazing bird !

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  6. Such pretty birds, and I love squirrels, know they are destructive.

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  7. Wonderful birds! You're photos are absolutely amazing. Greetings!

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  8. Hi David.

    Beautifully Blue Jays.
    Never seen.
    Squirrel is also nice.

    Groettie van Patricia

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  9. What a splendid bird to have visiting your garden on a regular basis, David. I wish the Eurasian Jay would visit our garden more often - only twice ever seen one in the garden!

    Love to you both - - - Richard

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  10. What a beautiful birds David.
    Which may also be in the back garden with me.
    The squirrel is nice to see.
    Greetings Tinie

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  11. Hi David, what a wonderful bird to have visiting your garden, I am lucky at home to have regular visits from Eurasian Jays onto our nut feeder. I bought and American Squirrel Buster feeder which woks wonders with the Squirrels, they get very frustrated not being able to get at the nuts. All the best, John

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  12. Stunning birds, the Blue Jays are beautiful.

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  13. Yes, they really are brilliant birds in so many senses of the word (I just finished reading 'The Genius of Birds" which has a scrub jay on the cover ... and the book has many examples of Jays "using their heads." At home in Oregon we have stellar Jays and scrub Jays, but not the 'just blue' Jay. I was excited when I first realized that they are fairly frequent visitors around here in Florida. I see at least one or two most mornings.

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  14. Thanks for the title, Sallie. I will pick up a copy of this book.

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  15. These blue jays are beautiful.

    All the best Jan

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  16. El Blue Jay es un ave espectacular, las fotos te han quedado fantásticas. Un abrazo desde España.

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